Work table



Sept. 6, 1938. H. D. FeALsToN WORK TABLE Filed Jan. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l l I I Hurley 1 Falsfcu, %M,%%- 2 lllllllllll III .I

Ttll.iililldli Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATESv WORK TABLE Hurley D. Ralston, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application January 14, 1935, Serial No. 1,645

2 Claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of applicants copending application, Serial No. 735,727, filed July 18, 1934.

The invention relates generally to tables and I more particularly to a table or desk for use in listing and tabulating.

The general object of the invention is to provide a table or desk which is equipped with or has space for supporting devices used in listing and tabulating sales sheets or the like, so that such devices are conveniently located relative to an operator to facilitate his use thereof by reducing the physical motions involved in their use to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a table of this character in which a central portion of the table may be tilted at an angle to a horizontal plane and another portion of the table may be swung to one side of the position occupied by the operator in order that the equipment constructed therein or supported thereby may be conveniently operated from one position.

A more specific object is to provide a table of this character having a portion at one side thereof swingable forwardly and constructed to re ceive and position a plurality of elongated listing sheets so that the sheets may be moved freely for convenient entry of matter thereon.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view partially broken away of a table embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the right side of the table as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the'line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec tion taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 'l-! of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1.

In large mercantile establishments, especially those doing a retail business, the labor of listing and tabulating sales is a large item of expense, involving often a number of persons whose time is solely devoted to this work. It is, therefore, important that the greatest convenience be provided for persons performing such work in order that the physical motions involved may be reduced to a minimum and the work be thus speeded up. The work may include such operations as entering sales on tabulating sheets, calculating net prices and totals, and placing a mark on the sales and tabulating sheets identifying the operator who has done the listing and tabulating. The equipment employed for these operations usually comprises a register, a calculating machine, and means to place an identifying mark on the various sheets, which, in the present instance, is a punch. The present invention, therefore, provides a table or the like for supporting or having constructed therein such equipment in a manner which is most convenient to an operator and which facilitates his use thereof. The present embodiment of the invention is also constructed so that the various portions thereof supporting or including the respective pieces of equipment are relatively adjustable to permit the table to be adapted to the individual conveniences of different operators.

As illustrated in the drawings, the table embodying the features of the invention comprises a top it) which may be supported in any usual manner-such as by four legs ll connected by horizontal braces I2 extending from one leg to another. The braces l2 preferably are flush with the upper ends of the legs so that the top rests on the braces as well as on the legs. In order to provide for the calculating machine and the register at a suitable height relative to the operator and to the tabletop proper, the top It together with the front and side braces l2, 1 are cut away preferably at the front right-hand corner, leaving the top L-shaped, as is shown in Fig. 1, with the leg I I, which would normally be at the right front corner of the table, positioned rearwardly.

Within the cutaway area where the calculating machine and register are positioned are adjustable portions for these devices which constitute parts of the top surface of the table, these portions preferably being depressed below the level of the tabletop proper or sloping therefrom so that the calculating machine and register are at a suitable height and position.

The portion for the calculating machine is in the nature of a support comprising a shelf l3 positioned medially of the front edge of the table and extending from the front edge into the angle of the L. In order that the calculating machine may be held in a convenient position relative to the operator, the shelf l3 may be tilted to slope forwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. To this end, the front edge of the shelf is pivotally supported by means of hinges |4 attached to the front brace l2 which is cut down to the level of the shelf l3 at that point. The rear end of the shelf rests on a U-shaped rod or cross-bar I5 which is supported by a pair of rearwardly extending supports l6 positioned under the shelf l3. The ends of the rod l5 are bent downwardly and are inserted in holes in the bars l6, there being several sets of holes at spaced points along the bars l6, as shown at IT in Figs. 1 and 6, in order that the rod I5 may be shifted from one set to another to support the shelf at different angles. When it is desired to lower the shelf |3 to a horizontal position, the rod I5 is shifted to a pair of holes, indicated at l8, under the extreme rear end of the shelf, and the latter is grooved as shown at ill in Fig. 6 to permit the shelf to occupy a horizontal position. To raise and lower the shelf, a finger hole 20 is provided.

To prevent the calculating machine from sliding off the front edge of the shelf l3 when the latter is tilted, a stop 2| is mounted on the front edge of the shelf. The stop 2| comprises a metal strip which may be adjusted from a position where its upper edge lies below the top surface of the shelf to a position where it extends slightly above the top surface as shown in Fig. 6. The adjustment is provided by a pair of vertically elongated slots 22 in the strip and a pair of screws 23 extending through the slots 22 into the shelf. Between each screw head and the strip is a coiled spring 24 surrounding the screw, which frictionally holds the strip in either position of adjustment.

The section for the register is preferably positioned at the right-hand front corner of the table and lies substantially within the cut-away area of the top. The register which is embodied in this section is so constructed that long listing sheets may extend downwardly therefrom for substantially their full length. In the present instance, the register section comprises a rectangular frame-like structure 25 provided with a forwardly sloping top 26. This support normally lies at a slight angle to the front edge of the table as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, but may be swung forwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it is directly at the righthand side of an operator located in front of the calculating machine portion. It thus may be swung to any angle between these two positions, which is best suited to the convenience of the individual operator. To permit such adjustment, the front inner corner of the frame-like structure 25 is pivotally attached to the table as by a hinge 21 secured to the front brace |2 of the table. To provide ample support for the register, a fifth leg 28 is provided at the outer rear corner of the frame-like structure and is rigidly attached thereto for movement therewith.

Preferably, the register is built into its section and is constructed to receive and hold a plurality of listing sheets, shown at 3|] in Figs. 4 and 5, with portions of each sheet exposed on the top of the section so that entries may readily be made thereon. Such sheets are preferably of considerable length and the frame-like structure is open at the bottom and positioned at one corner of the table clear of the other structural parts thereof so that the sheets may extend downward substantially their full length. To this end, the top 26 of the register section has a plurality of crosswise slats 3| over which the respective sheets lie, as shown in Fig. 5. Overlying the top is holder 32 preferably made of metal and having openings 33 therein matching the slats 3| but of slightly smaller size to hold the sheets fiat on the slats and exposed for writing. Immediately above each opening 33, a clip 34 may be mounted to receive a strip 35 of paper or the like showing the headings for columns printed on the sheets. The holder 32 is preferably mounted on hinges 36 at its upper end so that it may be lifted to give full access to the sheets and structure thereunder.

The register also includes means for progressively moving each sheet over the slat 3|. Said means, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, comprises a pair of parallel shafts 4|! preferably positioned rearwardly and below the slat 3|. On one of the shafts are placed a pair of laterally spaced rubber rolls 4| and on the other shaft a pair of correspondingly spaced roughened metal rolls 42, between which the sheet of paper extends. The plane of the two shafts is preferably placed substantially at right angles to the plane of the paper entering the rolls. Each shaft may be supported at its ends in bearings 43 inserted in the side members of the frame-like structure 25, while the shaft nearer the slat 3| may be supported intermediate its ends by a bearing 44 secured tothe slot. To feed the paper through the rolls, the shafts are rotatable in opposite directions by a pair of gears 45 in mesh at one end of the shafts, and a manually operable knob 46 mounted on an extension of one of the shafts on the outer side face of the frame-like structure 25.

The bottom of the frame-like structure 25 being open, the sheets 30 may extend down their full length, and by positioning the frame-like structure in one corner of the table, there are no other structural parts of the table to interfere with the sheets.

register section and the calculating machine shelf I3 is preferably filled by a fixed shelf 5|] which is preferably positioned at the same level as the calculating machine shelf when the latter is in its horizontal position. In order to fill the space between the fixed shelf 50 and the register section 25 when the latter is swung forwardly, a movable shelf 5| is rigidly secured to the lower lefthand edge of the register section 25 and is segmental in form as shown in Fig. '1, the movable shelf 5| underlying the fixed shelf 50 when the register support is in its inner or closed position.

The movable shelf 5| also serves to steady the register support and to hold it in its various positions of adjustment. rigidly secured to the table to underlie the register support and the rear edge of the movable shelf 5| when the registersupport is swung forwardly. The block 52 thus steadies the register support. To hold the support in its adjusted position, aspring catch such as a bullet catch 53 is mounted on the block or cleat 52 for engagement with a plurality of sockets 54 placed at a plurality of points on the under side of the movable shelf 5| so that the register section will be firmly but releasably held in various positions of adjustment.

As mentioned above, the table is also constructed to conveniently support a punch which is here shown at 55 mounted adjacent the left hand side of the table. The punch is preferably foot-operated so that the operators hands are free for other uses. The punch is preferably countersunk into the top of the table so To this end, a block 52 is The space between the normal position of the A0 that its throat is on the level of the table top and papers may be easily inserted into the throat of the punch. For operating the punch, a pedal 56 extends downwardly through an aperture in the table top.

In use, the calculating machine is placed on the shelf l3. If it is more convenient to the operator to have the machine tilted forwardly, the shelf may be raised by inserting the finger into the hole 20, and the rod l shifted forwardly to the desired set of holes I! in the bars IS. The strip 2| is also raised to its upper position, where it is held by the springs 24, so that the calculating machine cannot slide off the shelf.

The-register section may be swung forwardly to the position the operator finds most convenient, the spring catch 54 in the block 52 cooperating with movable shelf 5| tohold the structure steady in its adjusted position. In any of the positions of the register section, the sheets may extend downwardly, and may be fed across the writing position over the slats 3!.

The operator therefore may list and tabulate items on the register, and make any calculations involved in this work on the calculating machine. Since the register and the calculating machine are both positioned in the manner which is most convenient to the operator, a minimum of time is lost by the physical motions performed by the operator. The punch is also conveniently placed relative to the operator and by being foot-operated prevents delay when the various papers are punched for identification.

I claim as my invention:

1. A table of the character described having a swingable section in a front corner thereof, said swingable section being hinged at its front inner corner to the front of the table whereby it may be swung forwardly at one side of the center of the table, said swingable section having a leg at its outer rear corner, a shelf extending from the inner side edge of the swingable section to fill the space between the swingable section and the table proper when the former is swung forwardly, and a cleat rigid with the table proper underlying said shelf and having a spring catch engaging said shelf to hold the swingable section in various positions of adjustment.

2. A table comprising a top board, side boards and legs, the top board and side boards being cut away at one corner to provide an uninterrupted open space, a swingable section located in and filling said space at said corner, means for hinging said swingable section at its front inner corner to the front of the table whereby it may be swung forwardly at one side of the center of the table, said section having a top sloping downwardly and forwardly from the level of the table,

means for supporting the outer rear corner of said swingable section, a fixed portion of the top board being at a lower level adjacent the lower edge of the swingable section and abutting the inner side edge thereof when said section is in its rearmost position, a shelf secured to and extending from the lower portion of the inner side edge of the swingable section and underlying said fixed portion but arranged to fill the aforesaid space between the fixed portion and the swingable section when said swingable section and attached shelf are moved forwardly, and means on the table proper for supporting the rear edge of said shelf in its various positions of adjustment.

HURLEY D. RALSTON. 

